The role of the c-kit receptor in the regenerative differentiation of rat Leydig cells.

To determine the physiological role of the c-kit receptor, which is highly expressed in Leydig cells, the regenerative differentiation of Leydig cells was studied following transient degeneration induced by ethane dimethyl sulphonate (EDS) in c-kit-deficient mutant rats (Ws/Ws). EDS caused the destruction of Leydig cells; their functional recovery was evaluated by the weight change of the target organs of androgens, which occurred at the same rate in Ws/Ws and wild-type rats. These results indicate that the tyrosine kinase activity of the c-kit receptor does not play an essential role in the regenerative differentiation of Leydig cells.